Agitating sluice concentrator



Ndv. 10, 1931. V. v. CLARK 1,831,524

AGITATING SLUICE CONCENTRATOR Filed Aug. 50, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l v r:(u

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1931.

V. V. CLARK AGITATING SLUIGE CONCENTRATOR Filed Aug. 50, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1931.

V. V. CLARK AGITATING SLUICE CONCENTRATOR,

F iled Aug. 5'0, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 Patented Nov.10, 1931 VIVIAN v. CLARK, on NEW YORK, N. r.

AGITATING SLUIGE CON(115111"!RATOIB,

Application filed August '30, 1928. Serial No. 303,071.

My invention is suitable for either placerminlng gravels or lode-m1n1ngores, whereby the precious metals and valuable minerals contained insaid gravels and ores may be removed with the aid of a very small amountof water.

My invention has for its objects, to providea machine which can beprofitably operated on 'gravels and ores which heretofore have beenunprofitable and has for its further object, to provide a machine whichwill successfully concentrate unclassified gravel ore; and has anotherobject, to provide a. construction in which the water can be used overand over, thereby attaining a maximum efiicie-ncy of water inconcentration operations; and also has an additional object, toconstruct a machine in which only a minimum of power will be requiredfor operating the apparatus; and to accomplish the above objects in asimple machine that will be easy to adjust and operate, and yet will becapable of attaining a very high elliciency.

In work ofthis character, it is recognized as good practice to keep therifile layer of gravel, that is, the gravel which will collect under thelower edge of the shoe, in gentle suspension, so that the gold will workits way down tothe bottom of the sluice. This is a close imitation ofnatures method of concentration in the creeks and rivers.

In my machine, I provide a type of reciprocating conveyor, the sluiceitself having a. lateral vibratory movement which min imizes thepossibility of escape of the riflie layer of gravel, regardless of itscharacter, I accomplish this result by locating a pivot bearing near thedischarge end of the sluice. This enables the gravel to more easilyclimb the sharply inclined portion of the sluice box, due to thereciprocating movement, and at the same time this construction providesfor the greatest vibration of the sluice at the receiving end, where itis most needed.

In my construction, my concentrating macnine will take unclassifiedgravel, and will have. a larger capacity, obtain a. higher recovery, useless water, and consume less power per ton of ore treated, than is atpresent obtainable in machines of this type.

means for accomplishing the objects of my invention may he more readilycompreihendedby having reference to the accompanying drawings, which arehereunto an: nexed and, made a part of this specification, in which Fig.1 is a plan view of my improved ma chine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, part of the ma chine being broken away toshow a portion of a vertical longitudinal sectional view, the view beingtaken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

3 is .a vertical cross-section, taken on line 33 in Fig. 1; I

Fig. at is an end elevation, taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 1, in thedirection indicated by the arrows; j

5 isa fragmentary view of Fig. 2, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1

Fig. .6 isan enlarged end view of the pivot bearing shown in Figs. 2 andi;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the .pivot bearing shown inFig. 6

8 is an enlarged plan view of the spring counterbalance;

' F 1g. 9 1s a sectlon taken on lme 9-9 in Flg.

8, in the direction indicated by the arrows; and 7 Fig. 10 is a sideview, taken along line l010 in Fig, '8.

parts throughout the entire description.

, As shown in the drawings, 12 is a troughlilze sluice box, closed atoneend, and inclined upwardly, and open at the other end, said boXcomprising an end member, two side members, and a bottom member which isinclined to thetrap 59 so that the heavy gravel and metals will traveldown to the trap of the sluice box 12. Said boX 12 maybe braced andsupported by members 11, as shown in Figs 2, 3 and 4. To the under sideof supporting members 11 are attached bearings 13 and 13, which bearingsrespectively mount rot-atably axles 14 and 1 1 of rollers 15 and 15',which rollers travel to and fro on trackways 16, as shown inFigs. 2, 3and 41. At the power end, the machiue as shown in and near the base ofFigs. 2 and 1, is located a pivot bearing P, the details of constructionof which are here- 8 Snmlar reference numerals refer to similar inafterdescribed as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Said pivot bearing P, bearings 13and 13, axles 14 and 14, rollers 15 and 15', and trackways 16, supportand form a movable mounting for the box 12, of which mounting the pivotbearing P forms a hinge connection, so disposed that the receiving endof the box 12 and the intermediate sections thereof may travel in arcsof variable radii, which arcs and radii lessen as they approach thepower end of the box 12 until they become nil at the pivot bearing P.

Lateral motion, to and fro, may be transmitted to the box 12 and itsrespective parts as herein above described, by means of the eccentric17, which eccentric 17 is attached to the box 12 by means of connectingrod 18 and pivot 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Motion is transmitted tothe eccentric 17 from a shaft 20, which shaft may be driven by anysource of power, but in these drawings I have, for the sake ofconvenience, shown the power as transmitted to the shaft 20 throughbevel gears 21 and 22, shaft 23, pulley 24, belt 25, pulley 26, shaft27, pulley 28 and belt 29, which belt 29 is connected with a source ofpower (not shown), which power likewise drives other portions of myconcentrator to be hereinafter described.

Suspended above the box 12 is a plurality of flights 30, adapted to bereciprocally operated over and within the box 12 by means of anindependent supporting structure 11, for the trackways 31 and 31', onwhich trackways wheels 32 may travel back and forth.

To the axle 33 of each pair of wheels 32 is connected a frame-likestructure of parallel members 34, which frame-like structure 34 reachesforwardly to another axle withits pair of wheels 32, forming thereby atruck-like arrangement of parts, on which the truck and frame saidflights 30 are pivotally supported bv means of axles 33 and rods 35,thereby permitting three or more flights 30 to be mounted on eachtruck-like frame, of which frame the members 34 are a part.

In the drawings 1 have shown two complete trucks with their respectiveframe-like structures 34, one on the horizontal track-way 31 and theother on the inclined trackway 31', these trackways 31 and 31 beingmounted upon independent supports 11' which are stationary and free frommovement. These trackways 31 and 31 are so disposed that the twoseparate frame-like structures 34 may be connected at the rise of theinclined trackway 31' by means of pairs of link bars 36, thereby forminga flexible chain-like combination for supporting a plurality of flights30 on said horizontal and inclined trackways 31 and 31 respectively.Manifestly this system of trucks and frames with their respectiveflights may be extended to any length desired, as suggested by brokenlines at the receiving end of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Flights 30 may be constructed ofiron or steel members, of which 37 is areinforcement for the key 38, thereby enabling each said flight 30 to berigidly attached to the axles 33 and the rods 35, by which attachment,by reason of the axles 33 being pivotally mounted within the wheels 32,and the rods 35 being pivotally mounted within the framelike structure34, said flights 30 are, therefore, swingingly mounted on both the axles33 and the rods 35. This enables said flights 30 to assume anapproximately vertical posi tion, as shown in Fig. 3, when the directionof travel is toward the power end, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5,and likewise the flights 30 may assume an inclined position, as shown inFig. 2, when the direction of travel is toward the receiving end, asindicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

Flights 30 are arrested in their downward movement when traveling towardthe receiving end, by their engagement with stop plates 39, which stopplates 39 likewise arrest the upward movement of flights 30 by link bars40 resting upon the stop plates 39. These stop plates 39 are rigidlyconnected to said frame-like structures 34, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and5. Link bars 40 and 40 are pivotally connected with the flights 30 bymeans of bolts 41, thereby permitting ample freedom of movement as theflights 30 swing downward and upward.

To the lower portion of the flights 30 are attached shoes 42, whichshoes 42 are slidably adjustable on the flig slots 43 in the flights 30,as shown in Fig. 3. Bolts 44 secure the shoes 42 to the flights 30, andit will be noted in said Fig. 3 that the shoes 42 are reversible bymeans of holes 45.

To impart backward tory movement to the plurality of flights 36 andtheir respective frame-like structures 34, axles 33 and rollers 32, forthe sake of convenience I have shown rods 46 passing through andconnecting with the link bars 40, as shown in Fig. 1. To the ends of therods 46 are attached yokes 47, which yokes 4T terminate in pivots 48 towhich are attached connecting rods 49, which extend forwardly to crankpins 50 of wheels 51 and 51, said wheels being mounted on and attachedto the axle 52. Wheel 51 carries a belt 53, which belt 53 passes to apulley 54., attached to the shaft 55. To this shaft 55 is likewiseattached a pulley 56, which pulley carries the belt 57, which belt 57passes to the pulley 58, said pulley 58 being attached to the shaft 27heretofore mentioned, and which shaft 27 receives power from the pulley23 and the belt 29 from the source of power not shown in the drawings.

Near the receiving end of box 12, and to the bottom portion thereof, isattached a clean-up trap 59, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The bottom ofthe trap 59 is inclined downhts 30 by meansof a and forward vibraward,so that the direction of travel of material therein may be toward theoutlet, as shown by the arrow in Fig. A slotted entrance 60 to the trap59 regulates the size of the material that may pass into and throughsaid trap 59. A cap 61, provided with screw threads, may be screwed tothe outlet end of the trap 59 so that the material therein may beretained or discharged at will. This restricted neck for the trap 59 isdesigned to prevent the splashing of themercury in the trap 59.

Rod 62 passes through the extreme forward ends of the frame-likestructure 34, which rod 62 serves as an attachment for cord 63, whichcord 63 passes over and is attached to the drum 64 of the springcounterbalance S, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 8. This drum isrotatablyniounted on the shaft 65, to which is attached a plurality ofspiral springs 66 by means of pins 67. The other ends of said spiralsprings 66 are attached to casings 69, by means of rivets 68, and thecasings 69 are in turn-attached to the drum 64 by means of rivets 70,all of which parts, 64 to 70 inclusive, are clearly shown in F igs; 8and 9. Shaft 65 is rotatably mounted on bearings 71, which may' beattached to the member 73 by means of bolts 72, as shown in Figs. 1 and4. Shaft 65terminates in squared ends, 74 at the one end for engagementwith a crank or a wrench, and 7 5 atthe other end to which is attachedratchet head 76, containing teeth 77 which engage a pawl 78, which pawl78 is pivotally mounted within the bearing 71 by means ofa pin 79. Byreason of the engagement of the pawl 78 with the ratchet teeth 77, theshaft 65 may he rigidly held in one position while the spiral springs 66are operating or have tension thereon. Manifestly greater tension may betrans mitted to the drum 64 by turning the shaft 65 at its end 74 in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 9. I 1 At the receiving end of themachine as shown in 2, is a water-conduit 80,through which water mayflow into the box 12, and fill the said box 12 to approximately thelevel indicated by line lVLof Figs. 2 and 5. At the forward point alongsaid water line VVL an overflow orifice 81 is provided in the box 12,for withdrawing the excess of water in said box 12 coming from eitherconduit or from any other source ofsupply. Above the receiving end ofthe machine/ as shown in the Fig. 2 is a hopper like arrangement 82,through which gravel or ore may be fed into the receiving end of saidbox 12, only a fragmentary portion of said hopper 82 being shown, asobviouslyit forms no part of my invention. i 7

Between the side members of the box'l2 and the shoes 42, spaces 83 areprovided to avoid interference by the edges of the shoes 42 with the toand fro n-iovemcnts ofthc box 12 when'operated upon by means of'theeccentric 17. As thespaces 83 also allow unclassified gravel or ore topass between the walls of the box 12 and the edges of the shoes 42,'itmay be necessary to screen out the frag ments of gravel or ore which arelarger than the space intermediate the side wallof the box and the edgesof the shoes 88, which larger fragments of grave]. or ore, if allowed toenter the box 12 would have a tendency to wedge between the side wallsof the box and the shoes 42. To minimize the possibility of fragments ofgravel or ore wedging between the sidewalls of box 12 and the edge ofthe shoes 42, said spaces-:83 may be made of a width to accommodate thepassage of any size fragment of gravel or ore that a given deposit maycontain, thereby avoiding any screening or classification whatsoever. 5

Space 84, between the bottom member of the box 12 and the under edges ofthe shoes 42, permits the accumulation of concentrate therein, whichspace 84 can be varied in thick ness-by adjusting the shoes 42 upwardlyor downwardly on the flights 30 in the manner hereinbefore described. 7

Guide plates 85 and 85 serve to limit the lateral movement of theframe-like structure 34 in the event the flights 30 thereon enf counteran obstruction and raise upwardly from the trackways 31 and 31, whichupward movement would cause said trucks and rollers to jump off saidtrackways '31 and 31 were it not for said guide plates 85 and 85.

Pivot bearing P is shown in the enlarged drawings Figs. 6 and 7, inwhich 86 is a bolt or pivot, securing 87 (a supporting member of box 12)to 88, which her for trackways 16. Between the members 87 and 88 arebearing plates 89, which. plates 89 contain circular grooves, in whichgrooves rotate a plurality of steel balls 90, which balls 90 reducefriction and permit sufiicient freedom o-f'movement in the vibratorymovement of the box'12 when acted upon by the eccentric '17.

In the operation of my invention, a site is selected, preferablyadjacent to the deposit of gravel or ore, and the sluiceconcentrator isset on" a firmfoundation. Power is applied to the belt'29 which rotatesthe pulley 28, and in turn transmits motion to the framelike structure34 that supports the flights 30 on theaxles' 33 and the rollers 32,which travel reciprocally on the trackways 31 and 31. Likewise, thelateral vibratory movement of the box 12 is set in operation from thesame source of'power, as hereinbefore described,

throughthe' shaft 20 to the eccentric 17, so

that both flights 80 and the box 12 move in their respective directionsat the same time.

i Water is introduced into the box 12 through the conduit80, or throughany other suitable or convenient means of conveying water, until thewater level is approximately at the line is a supporting 111G111;

WV-L, as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the excess water overflows throughthe orifice 81, which excess may be carried therefrom by means of a pipeor trough, to a convenient distance away from the concentrator, wheresaid water may be impounded and pumped back for re-using.

After water is introduced into the box 12 with the plurality of theflights 30 reciprocally operating within said box, said flights 30 willmove forwardly in their upward position as shown in Figs. 2 and3, byreason of the shoes 42 resisting the medium of water through which theyare traveling, and the flights 30 likewise encounter stop plates 39 onthe other side of the fulcrum or axle 33.

When the flights 30 are traveling in the rearward direction, as shown inFig. 5, the resistance of the water in box 12 against the shoes 42 ofsaid flights 30 causes said flights 30 to assume their inclinedposition, as shown in Fig. 5, by reason of the axle 33 serving as afulcrum for the flights 80. It will be observed that the flights 3Otraveling on the inclined trackway 31 operate above the water line VV-Lin the box, and would not, therefore, rise and fall by the resistance ofwater against the shoes 42. To cause the flights 30 that operate withinthe sharply inclined portion of the box 12 to rise and fall in unisonwith the flights 30 that operate below the water line lV-L within thebox 12,1 have employed connecting link bars 40 and 40, whereby the forcethat is accumulated through the plurality of flights 30 operating withinthe medium of water in the box 12 in their forward and rearwardmovements is, transmitted to the link bars 40 and 40 and from thence tothe flights 30 in the sharply inclined portion of the box 12, whichflights 30, therefore, rise and fall in unison with the flights 30operating within the medium of water within the box 12.

The rising and falling action of the flights 30 within the box 12 isassisted in their forward and rearward movements by means of thethrusting and pulling action of the connecting rods 49against the rods46, which rods 46 pass through the link bars 40, as shown in Fig. 1.That is to say, when connecting rods 49 are pulling forward, as shown inFig. 2, the strain of the movement is transmitted from said link bars 40through the rods 41 to the upward ends of flights 30, as shown in Figs.1, 2 and 3.

lVith axles 33 and rods 85 acting as fulcrum points, said flights 30are, when connecting rods 49 pull forward, set against stop plates 39and remain thereupon until connecting rods 49 thrust rearward, whereuponflights 30 fall downward on fulcrums 00 and 35 and assume a downwardposition, with link bars resting upon stop plates 39,

as shown in Fig. 5.

After power is applied to my concentrator and its various parts arefunctioning properly, with water in box 12 to the level WL as described,gravel or ore may be introduced into the machine through hopper 82, orby shoveling into box 12, or by any other suitable means, into thereceiving end portion of box 12, whereupon the flight 30 nearest to saidgravel or ore conveys it in a draglike manner along the bottom of box'12 to the next succeeding flight 80 when the flight movement isforward, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon their rearward movement, said flights3O automatically assume the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby passingover the'gravel or ore so conveyed until the complete rearward movementis reached; thereupon the flights 30 assume the position shown in Fig.2, and convey other portions of gravel or ore to the respectivesucceeding fli hts 30 along the bottom of the box 12, untfl the wasteportions of said gravel or ore are discharged at the open end of the box12, which waste material may be received by a continuous belt conveyor,a bucket conveyor, or by any other method of handling gravel or orewaste as used in well known metallurgical operations.

The lateral vibratory movement transmitted to the box 12 cooperates withthe reciprocal movements of the flights 30 in the concentration actionupon said gravel or ore as it passes through the box 12, the watertherein serving to settle out all'the precious metals and heavy mineralsthat such gravel or ore may contain, which metals and minerals fall tothe bottom of the box 12, there to remain until drawn out of the boxthrough the cleanup trap 59, which clean-up operation will behereinafter described.

In the passage of the gravel or ore through the box 12 by means of thereciprocal move ment described for flights 30, the lateral vibratorymovement of box 12 lessens in arcs of variable radii as pivot bearing Pis ap proached, thereby permitting the waste from said gravel or ore tomore readily climb the more sharply inclined plane at the discharge endof the box 12, under the reciprocationconveying movement of the flights30 along said box 12. Moreover, as the greatest intensity of vibrationof the box 12 is at the point of attachment with the eccentric 17, it ismanifest that the greatest settling or concentrating action must occurwithin the zone of greatest vibration, while other metals and mineralswould settle out in zones of lesser vibration, all of whichconcentration is accomplished under and within a variable medium ofwater. In other words, my concentrator has a universal lateral vibratorymove ment along a transverse plane, the maximum vibration of which maybe made as much as conditions of gravel or ore may require toobtain'complete settling of metals and minerals under water, but in anycase the minimum vibration ceases at pivot point P. This s e i a ot P ybe l ca ed t a y d si d paint u it is preferably a ed s shown i t edrawings, near the discharge end of the box 12, so as topermit thegravel to be shaken 5 back and thus in a degree prevent ts d schargewithout the assistance of the fl ghts 30. As the waste or tailings fromthe gravel or ore ascends the sharply inclined portion of the box 12 bymeans of the reciprocat ng movement of the flights 30, as descr1bed,sa1dwaste is carried above the water line WL, and as said waste materialcontinues to ascend, the water that may be contained in the ntersticesof said waste or tailings drainsout and flows back into the box 12,ltisapparent, therefre,that the only water lost in t e waste material atits point of discharge from the box is that which is absorbed in saidwaste and not amenable to further drainage through gravity action. 7 V

Unclassified gravel or ore may be passed through my concentrator bymeans of the conveying action of the shoes 42 attached to the flights30, and the spaces 83 between said shoes 42 and the walls of the box maybe proportioned to allow passage w th n said spaces 83 for the largestpiece or fragment of ore or 'ravel that a given depos t may contain. r,it may advisable to screen out, or to throw out y hand or o h rwi e sucpieces of fragments of gravel or ore that are too large to pass withinspaces 8 3, and would have a tendency to wedge there n the by stop theoperation of the machinery.

to accumulate on the bottom of the be 12,

which said concentrate may be drawn off through the clean-up trap 59'. 7

The water in the box 12 may be nsed to aid 7 drawing off saidconcentrate through cleanup trap 59, by reason of the carry ng action.such water would have in its assage through the slotted entrance to t etrap V 59, whereby the concentrate would follow the flowof water, bothconcentrate and water-being received in a suitable receptacle under; thedischarge spout of said trap 59. -Or, the

water in the box 12 may bedrained or drawn exposed on the bottom of thebox 12, whereup the r p 59 y b O ne by em in the cap 61, and with theaidof scrapers and a hose with water, said conceritratemay be (118-receptacle of the trap 59.

In the. upward and downward movements of the flights 30 on the inclinedtrackways t e is an o ous tendency t q slam is u n ce y P e i t u yr r oeme the att nda t s s rea ee em nt I heveeifipleyed s nconnter-balancemS, to which is attache 7 ard movement, and' Space 8.4,between the bottom of the box 12 lowing a thick or a thinbed ofconcentrate .vided with an-Q the sliced ll b off by other means, leavingthe concentrates charged through said trap 59intoa suitable placed underthe discharge spout.

and to rnsh down the inclined trackways 31 in t e dflyy ws d m l s' g hby yielent eco movement. "To avoid th e i m sed power in thesubsequentone sides a cord63 the other end o'fsaid cord being attached to the rod6 2,;this rod'62 be s seesaw h pw i d pe o the ira nedilie structure34,?13 hereinbefore described; Itis manifest, therefore, that theconnter balance' serves to maintain t c equilibrium oftheflightaction inits upward and downward movements, by stori ng PQW W thin iral s ngs 6it the dayspp yin s d to e power to the cord 63in theupward move- Tme th re y yeid es a y recoil whet' ee when sa d fi s t t h fil limit 6their ele n a 'd' treyel a a d n d tr 'k vey Sinns c unter-b la ce 5 mayh a 'us to any requiredtension, by turning 5 by flieisquer 1 h eby justa wa lead th t id fl gh 3 y be l i rying up the sharply inclined portionof the box 12. p Fat the ess of full di l su e o my invention havedescribed in s me ,de'taila specific embodiment thereof; it will be madein the physical embodiment of my invention Within the scope of theclaims, with-' cut d par ing rom th Spi of myi ve'nt on or sacrihcingany of t i ilit es, n

at the end of the downward V ,1" lon t ir th re, o b imdefisd s mi ingmys lf, in h o der p c of my invention, to the specific constructionshown and described. Y Having described my invention, What I rega d nand d 't "Pate'nt of the United States is:

:1. a device of the ch'aracter described, th combin ien with a su ta tialy re anjl ar bqyythe bottm o ei fb i orizontal portion, one end ofwhich is closed, and an inc ined portion rising above thetop of thehorizontal portion of thebox and propen end, means to reciprocate h pthe boy: in a substantially hor zontal plane on said i i flight maime Wt in aid b0 and'mean ee fligh s l g tudinally n, t with th my ,L lQYiQnt of the box. w

s 190% s mult e ly 2. In a device of the character described, thecombination with a H k (t ns la beethe b ttom 0 e hex ha ihorizontalportion, onee nd of which i s-closed,

and a in ned Per io l i i ye th [t p 9f th hq iiz ta 1 portion of theboxland pr0- yided with anopen end, of ivotal mounting ie l h QXYedi Qtit 99 end 1 .zre nre at the lesed e d Qft i. i .j aS11b.--

secure by Letters.

haying a pi t, a lyir ty bf substantially "rec- 9 flights,"said flightsbeing mounted pivotally" the top of the horizontal portion of the boxand provided with an open end, of a pivotal mounting for the boxadjacentits open end, means to reciprocate the closed end of the box in asubstantially horizontal plane on said pivot, a frame havinglongitudinal and transverse members, said transverse members formingtracks, rollers positioned to ride said tracks and means to connect saidrollers to the horizontal portion of said box, a plurality of flightsmounted within said box, and

means to reciprocate said flights longitudinally in said box,simultaneously with the transverse movement of the box.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with asubstantially rectangular box, the bottom of said box having ahorizontal portion, one end of which is closed,

and an inclined portion rising above the top of the horizontal portionof the box and pro- 5 vided with an open end, of a pivotal mounting forthe box adjacent its open end, means to reciprocate the closed end ofthe box in a substantially horizontal plane on said pivot,

a plurality of flights mounted'within said 0 box, driving means toreciprocate said flights longitudinally in said box, simultaneouslyframe which forms a common support for said flights, said flights beingmounted pivotally thereon and they are longitudinally reciprocated.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with asubstantially rectanhorizontal portion, one end of which is closed,

, vided with an open end, of a pivotal mountto reciprocate the closedend of the box in f a substantially horizontal plane on said pivot, aplurality of flights mounted within said box, means which-forms a commonsupport for said thereon and having ;of the horizontal portion of thebox, and prowith the transverse movement of the box, a

having projecting por-. 'tions, members connecting said portions, saiddriving means operatively connected to said members, whereby. saidflights are individually movable of their mounting means as and aninclined portion rising above the top; of the horizontal portion of thebox and proing for thebox adjacent its open end, means to reciprocatesaid flights longitudinally in said box, simultaneously with i, thetransverse movement of the box, a frame projecting portions, saiddriving means operatively connected to said 'members, wherebysaidflights are individually movable of their mounting means as they arelongitudinally i'eciprocated, a transversely inclined trap in the bottomof said box adjacent its closed end, said trap being provided with aslotted entrance. 7

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with asubstantially rectangularbox, the bottom of said box having a horizontalportion, one end of which is closed, and an inclined portion risingabove the top of the horizontalportion of the box and provided with anopen end, of a pivotal mountif ing for the box'adjacent its open'end,means to reciprocate the closed end of the box in a substantiallyhorizontal plane on said pivot,

a plurality of flights pivotally mounted withs in said box, means toreciprocate said flights bodily and longitudinally in said box,simultaneously with the transverse movement of the box, a frame whichforms a common support for said flights, said flights being mountedpivotally thereon and having projecting. portions, members connectingsaid portions, said driving meansoperatively connected to said memberswhereby said flights are individually movable of their mounting-- meansas they are longitudinallyreciprocated, coil springs mounted on theframe adj acent the pivoted end of the box and substantially in linewith and operatively connected to the longitudinally reciprocatingframe.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with asubstantially rectangular box, the bottom of said box having .ahorizontal portion,one end of which is closed, and an inclined portionrising above the top vided with an openend, of a pivotal mounting forthe box adjacent its open end, means to reciprocate the closed endof thebox in a substantially horizontal plane on said pivot,-

a plurality of flights pivotally mounted withno in s'aidbox, meanstoreciprocate'said flights bodily-and longitudinally in saidbox,simultaneously; with the transverse movement of l the box,

said flights to swing same on and means to limit said swinging movement.gular box, the bottom of said box having a and means operativelyconnected to 1 their pivots 1 5 8. Inadevice of the character described,the combination with a substantiall rectangular box, the bottom of saidbox aving a horizontal portion,one end of which is closed,

i and an'inclined portion rising above the top of the horizontalportionof the box and provided with anopen end, of a pivotal mounting for thebox adj acent'its open end, means toreciprocate the closed end of thebox in a substantially horizontal plane on said pivot, a pluralityofflights pivotally mounted within said box, means to reciprocatesaidflights bodily and longitudinally in said box, simultaneously with'the' transverse movement of the box, and means operatively connected tosaid flights to swing said flights on their pivots, means to limit saidswinging movement, axles on said reciprocating means, flanged rollers onsaid axles, track members comprising a horizontal portion and verticalp01'- 7 tions which form guide plates spaced out- Wardly from saidrollers to permit relative transverse movement of the longitudinallyreciprocating frame.

VIVIAN V. CLARK.

